Writing a Lab ReportWriting a Lab Report

Karin PaquinKarin Paquin

Inquiry Project PlanInquiry Project Plan

Edu 743Edu 743

ObjectivesObjectives

• Learn how to create an exceptional Learn how to create an exceptional lab reportlab report

• Learn how to work in groups and Learn how to work in groups and create your own voice when writing create your own voice when writing their lab reporttheir lab report

• You will have a better understanding You will have a better understanding of the basic topics needed to create of the basic topics needed to create a lab report.a lab report.

Materials Needed:Materials Needed:

• LaptopLaptop

• ProjectorProjector

• JournalsJournals

• PencilsPencils

• White board and markersWhite board and markers

• Examples of exceptional lab reportsExamples of exceptional lab reports

• List of lab topicsList of lab topics

Lesson One/Day 1: Exceptional Lesson One/Day 1: Exceptional Lab ReportsLab Reports

• You will break-up into groups of 4 You will break-up into groups of 4 based on the topic chosenbased on the topic chosen

• Topics IncludeTopics Include– Invertebrate LabInvertebrate Lab– Phytoplankton LabPhytoplankton Lab– Studies at SeaStudies at Sea– Dissection LabDissection Lab– Marsh Transect LabMarsh Transect Lab

Activity One: Introduction Activity One: Introduction (10 (10

minutes)minutes)

• What are the parts of a lab report?What are the parts of a lab report?

• What is a hypothesis?What is a hypothesis?

• How do you create a voice in a lab How do you create a voice in a lab reportreport

Hypothesis statementHypothesis statement

• A hypothesis is an educated guess about how things work. A hypothesis is an educated guess about how things work.

• Most of the time a hypothesis is written like this: "If _____[I do Most of the time a hypothesis is written like this: "If _____[I do this] _____, then _____[this]_____ will happen." (Fill in the blanks this] _____, then _____[this]_____ will happen." (Fill in the blanks with the appropriate information from your own experiment.)with the appropriate information from your own experiment.)

• Your hypothesis should be something that you can actually test, Your hypothesis should be something that you can actually test, what's called a what's called a testabletestable hypothesis. In other words, you need hypothesis. In other words, you need to be able to measure both "what you do" and "what will to be able to measure both "what you do" and "what will happen." happen."

Activity Two Activity Two (20 minutes)(20 minutes)

• Within your group read through the Within your group read through the exceptional lab report and highlight the exceptional lab report and highlight the key areaskey areas– IntroductionIntroduction– MaterialsMaterials– MethodsMethods– ResultsResults– Discussion and AnalysisDiscussion and Analysis– ConclusionsConclusions

Activity Two: Activity Two:

• Note the authors voice in the Note the authors voice in the introduction, discussion and analysis introduction, discussion and analysis and conclusionand conclusion

• Discuss in a group the important Discuss in a group the important factors and what the purpose of the factors and what the purpose of the report is aboutreport is about

• What was the hypothesis and was this What was the hypothesis and was this disproved or supported?disproved or supported?

• How is the author wording their reportHow is the author wording their report

Activity Three: Class Activity Three: Class Discussion Discussion (30minutes)(30minutes)

• Through shared writing we will create Through shared writing we will create an outline for their lab reportan outline for their lab report

• Please note how the instructor Please note how the instructor begins the introductionbegins the introduction

• Don’t forget to formulate a Don’t forget to formulate a hypothesishypothesis

Create a Lab Report OutlineCreate a Lab Report Outline

Title:Title:

Introduction:Introduction:

Materials List:Materials List:

Methods:Methods:

Results:Results:

Discussion Analysis:Discussion Analysis:

Conclusion:Conclusion:

HomeworkHomework

• Students will be tasked with working Students will be tasked with working in groups to complete their lab report in groups to complete their lab report outlinesoutlines

AssessmentAssessment

• You will be assessed for the content You will be assessed for the content presented in your outlines and will be presented in your outlines and will be assessed for filling in the outline assessed for filling in the outline areas created in class areas created in class

• Your journals will be assessed for Your journals will be assessed for note taking, content, grammar, note taking, content, grammar, illustrations, and spelling. illustrations, and spelling.

Lesson Two/Day 2Lesson Two/Day 2

• Creating graphs, tables, and Creating graphs, tables, and diagrams diagrams

• Students will learn how to insert Students will learn how to insert these into their lab reports these into their lab reports

• You will learn to create your own You will learn to create your own voice in your lab reportsvoice in your lab reports

Activity One Activity One (30 minutes)(30 minutes)

• We will work together through We will work together through shared writing to create an shared writing to create an introduction to each lab report. introduction to each lab report.

Shared Writing Example Shared Writing Example IntroductionIntroduction

• A lab report introduction should A lab report introduction should include the followinginclude the following– the hypothesisthe hypothesis– the objective and purpose of the labthe objective and purpose of the lab– Background informationBackground information– Brief summary of how experiment Brief summary of how experiment

performedperformed– The findings of the experimentThe findings of the experiment– List of conclusions of the investigation List of conclusions of the investigation

Example introductionExample introduction• Unicellular eukaryotes belong to the kingdom Protista, and are often Unicellular eukaryotes belong to the kingdom Protista, and are often

referred to as “protists” or “protozoans.” The name “protozoan” means referred to as “protists” or “protozoans.” The name “protozoan” means “first animal,” but eukaryotes may display either plant or animal-like “first animal,” but eukaryotes may display either plant or animal-like characteristics, or a combination of both. Although unicellular, they have a characteristics, or a combination of both. Although unicellular, they have a nucleus and membrane-bound organelles, making them functionally nucleus and membrane-bound organelles, making them functionally complex despite their small size. Each small protist is a self-supporting complex despite their small size. Each small protist is a self-supporting unit, carrying out all the processes for survival in just one cell. They thrive unit, carrying out all the processes for survival in just one cell. They thrive on moisture and can be found on moist soil and in fresh and marine bodies on moisture and can be found on moist soil and in fresh and marine bodies of water. There are about 30,000 known species of protozoans, commonly of water. There are about 30,000 known species of protozoans, commonly classified according to their movement patterns as sarcodines—moving classified according to their movement patterns as sarcodines—moving with false feet called pseudopodia or, flagellates—moving with whip-like with false feet called pseudopodia or, flagellates—moving with whip-like structures known as flagella, ciliates—moving with short hairs known as structures known as flagella, ciliates—moving with short hairs known as cilia, and sporozoans—with no movement. They all have varying shapes, cilia, and sporozoans—with no movement. They all have varying shapes, sizes, and survival strategies. For example, some may “hunt” small sizes, and survival strategies. For example, some may “hunt” small particles of food such as bacteria or algae; whereas others may be particles of food such as bacteria or algae; whereas others may be parasitic, inhabiting larger organisms. Despite their differences, all protists parasitic, inhabiting larger organisms. Despite their differences, all protists have several characteristics in common. In addition to a nucleus or nuclei have several characteristics in common. In addition to a nucleus or nuclei to house their genetic material, most protists have mitochondria for to house their genetic material, most protists have mitochondria for metabolic functions, and vacuoles for digestion and excretion. With the metabolic functions, and vacuoles for digestion and excretion. With the help of these and other cellular structures, protists may feed, grow, and help of these and other cellular structures, protists may feed, grow, and reproduce.reproduce.

Activity Two Activity Two (20 minutes)(20 minutes)

• Students will learn the differences Students will learn the differences between tables, charts, graphs, between tables, charts, graphs, figure, and diagrams. figure, and diagrams.

• How do you reference a graph, chart, How do you reference a graph, chart, table, diagram, and figuretable, diagram, and figure

Example ChartExample Chart

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

1st Qtr 2nd Qtr 3rd Qtr 4th Qtr

EastWestNorth

Charts always include a x and y axis. It is important to use this chart when showing how to things work together over time. Such comparing the amount of phytoplankton to the amount of salinity or temperature.

Example TablesExample Tables

DateDate TimeTime TempTemp SalinitySalinity locationlocation

Tables are great for simply showing information such as that listed below.

Example DiagramExample DiagramDiagrams are perfect for showing how things connect or showing the inside of a fishes anatomy to relate to the dissection lab.

Example GraphExample Graph

stat.columbia.edu

Graphs are great for showing what happens over time. They also have an x and y axis. Such as explaining what happens as pollution runs into the marsh and accumulates over time.

How to Reference the aboveHow to Reference the above

• All of the above should have descriptive titles All of the above should have descriptive titles and should include a legend explaining any and should include a legend explaining any symbols, abbreviations, or special methods used. symbols, abbreviations, or special methods used. Figures, graphs, charts, figures, and tables should Figures, graphs, charts, figures, and tables should be numbered separately and should be referred be numbered separately and should be referred to in the text by number, for example: to in the text by number, for example: – Figure 1 shows that the activity decreased Figure 1 shows that the activity decreased

after five minutes. after five minutes. – The activity decreased after five minutes (fig. The activity decreased after five minutes (fig.

1). 1).

Activity Three: Activity Three:

• How and where to insert graphs and data?How and where to insert graphs and data?

• Graphs and data should be inserted in the Graphs and data should be inserted in the results section of the reportresults section of the report

• Remember if the instructor wants a 3 page Remember if the instructor wants a 3 page written lab report this is three written pages written lab report this is three written pages without graphs, table, charts, etc… included. without graphs, table, charts, etc… included.

• It is helpful to write the report first and then It is helpful to write the report first and then go back and insert the actual graphs, charts, go back and insert the actual graphs, charts, etc…etc…

Assessment Day Two:Assessment Day Two:

• You will be assessed throughout the You will be assessed throughout the class. class.

• You will be assessed for participation You will be assessed for participation during discussions and your journals will during discussions and your journals will be assessed for content and usefulness. be assessed for content and usefulness. The instructor will make sure you have The instructor will make sure you have written down the important components written down the important components needed to complete your lab report needed to complete your lab report

Lesson Three/ Day 3Lesson Three/ Day 3

• We will learn how to bring each We will learn how to bring each element of the lab report together to element of the lab report together to create an exceptional lab report. create an exceptional lab report.

• You will work in groups based on You will work in groups based on topic to complete the bulk of your topic to complete the bulk of your scientific lab report.scientific lab report.

Activity One Activity One (20 minutes)(20 minutes)

• Class discussion on how to combine Class discussion on how to combine all the different pieces of the lab all the different pieces of the lab report to create an exceptional lab report to create an exceptional lab report. report.

• How can you build upon your How can you build upon your outlines?outlines?

Activity 2 Activity 2 (20 minutes)(20 minutes)

• Write independently on lab reports Write independently on lab reports for 20 minutes. Work on building for 20 minutes. Work on building upon your outline. Create full upon your outline. Create full sentences and include more detailed sentences and include more detailed descriptions in the methods section, descriptions in the methods section, results section, and conclusion.results section, and conclusion.

Activity three Activity three (10minutes)(10minutes)

• Get back into your groups of four and Get back into your groups of four and discuss what you have written thus discuss what you have written thus far comparing and making notes of far comparing and making notes of missed informationmissed information

Activity four Activity four (10 minutes)(10 minutes)

• Final questions will be asked in this Final questions will be asked in this class wide discussion. class wide discussion.

AssessementAssessement

• Your teacher will carry out the final Your teacher will carry out the final assessment. You will have one week assessment. You will have one week to complete your lab reports and to complete your lab reports and bring your drafts into a final paperbring your drafts into a final paper

• You final lab report will be assessed You final lab report will be assessed for content, grammar, spelling, for content, grammar, spelling, punctuation, voice of the author, and punctuation, voice of the author, and format. format.